The latest in space science: We look back at the Big Bang

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

C1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (dropdown)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The researchers insisted that any explanation ___ against astronomical observations.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. be assessed
   2. is assessed
   3. was assessed
   4. being assessed
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   be assessed

   The mandative subjunctive requires the base form after insisted that.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Only after the evidence had accumulated ___ the imbalance become theoretically compelling.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. did
   2. had
   3. was
   4. would
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   did

   Negative inversion requires auxiliary-subject inversion after only after.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The model, ___ limitations were openly acknowledged, remained scientifically valuable.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. which
   2. whose
   3. that its
   4. of which its
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   whose

   The relative possessive whose correctly modifies limitations.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Had antimatter prevailed, the universe ___ radically different from the one observed today.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. would have been
   2. will be
   3. would be being
   4. had been
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   would have been

   This mixed conditional requires would have been for the present result.

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The evidence is too limited ___ a definitive conclusion about the universe’s origins.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. to support
   2. supporting
   3. that it supports
   4. support
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to support

   Too followed by an adjective takes an infinitive expressing consequence.

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   ___ the early universe remains difficult, scientists continue testing competing models.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. Although reconstructing
   2. Despite reconstruct
   3. Nevertheless reconstruct
   4. Even reconstruct
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   Although reconstructing

   Although introduces a concessive subordinate clause with a finite verb.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The episode presents cosmology as a field in which explanations ___ continually revised.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. are
   2. be
   3. to be
   4. being
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   are

   The passive construction requires are plus the past participle revised.

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.